Looking for practical Tiv to Sango phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tiv phrase first, then the Sango translation (Sango) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Sango.
Tip: read the Sango line out loud three times, then cover the Tiv side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tiv to Sango translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Mgbakpa
Mbote
Ior na
Mokolo
Mgbakpa u sha
Mbote na nganga
Mgbakpa u kpa
Mbote na nganga ya zanga
Mgbakpa u ter
Mbote na nganga ya sika
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Ndeko na nganga
Kpa a joo
Tango na yo
Ior a joo
Ayo
Ior m ngu?
Nani na yo?
M ngu John
Nani na nga John
Ior m nande?
Oza malamu?
Ior m nande a joo
Mokili na yo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
I kpa English?
O yo na nganga English?
M nahan Hindi nahan.
O na yo na nganga Hindi na mboka.
M nahan usha.
O na yo na mboka.
M nahan usha kpa.
Sokou, yo na nganga na mboka.
I kpa a sha?
O tanga na mboka?
I we a joo?
Banga na yo na ndako?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Nde na yo na banga na mboka?
Kpa a joo.
Kanga na mboko.
Kpa a nahan.
Kanga na nganga.
Kpa a sha.
Kende na mboka.
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Nde na yo na mboka?
I kpa a ticket, please.
Mokolo na ticket, sokou.
I we a nahan a nahan?
O na mboka na mboka?
M nahan sha.
O na yo na mboka.
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Banga na yo na tanga SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
O
Naa
Té
Iye
Sâ
M na a kpa
Ngâ tî
M na a kpa nahan
Ngâ té tî
I kpa a kpa
O bô
U kpa a nahan?
Nâ tî yé?
U kpa m nahan?
O kâ yé tî?
M na a kpa nahan
Ngâ kâ tî
Kpa a kpa
Bê na
M na a kpa
Ngâ tî na
Naa a kpa
Té bô
I kpa a kpa
Mâ tî
A kpa a kpa
Mâ na mbâ
U kpa a kpa
O kâ na mbê
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ior a kpa?
O na wâ na gare?
Ior a nyam?
O na wâ na station de taxi?
Ior a gande?
O na wâ na plateforme?
Nenge a kpa?
O na tî na mbô?
Ior a nenge a?
O na wâ na yâ?
I na kpa a.
O na bô na kâ.
I na kpa a kpa.
O na fâ na kâ.
I ma ior a gande?
O kâ tî na mappa?
Kpa a, please.
Kâ na kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Nenge a kpa?
O na tî na mbô?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ior kwagh nahan?
Mboka na yo?(mboka na yo)
Ior u kpa a kpa
Oko na mboka mingi(oko na mboka mingi)
Ior m ngu u kpa?
Ozo na nanga mboka?(o zo na nanga mboka)
Ior m gban a card?
Naka na yeke na carte?(naka na yeke na carte)
A doo a table m ngu a yô
Naka na table ya mibale(naka na table ya mibale)
Ior a bill, please
Bilan, s'il vous plaît(bilan, s'il vous plaît)
Ior a service m nahan?
Service ezali na yango?(service ezali na yango)
A m vegetarian
Nani na mboka ya nyama(nani na mboka ya nyama)
A m nahan a spicy food
Te na mabele ya sika, s'il vous plaît(te na mabele ya sika)
Ior a kpa
Oyo ezali malamu(oyo ezali malamu)
Ior m gban a menu?
Naka na menu?(naka na menu)
A glass a water, please
Bokoko ya mai, s'il vous plaît(bokoko ya mai)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Kpa a police
Banga nganga
Kpa a ambulance
Banga ambulance
M ba a doctor
Mbi na doctor
M kpa a kpa
Mbi na yeke
M kpa a nyam
Mbi na alerji na kolo
I kpa a hospital mza?
A na hospital ya mboka?
I kpa a sha
E yeke na mboko
M kpa a passport m
Mbi tanga passport na ngai
I kpa a hotel m?
O tanga hotel na ngai?
Kpa!
Sango!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ior u kpa.
Mbi na yo(Mbi na yo)
Ka a hia ikyô.
Tala na yeke mboka
Nî kpa u kpa?
Nani ti na yo?
M gbanor u kpe.
Nde na yeke report na tî
A hia nî u hia?
Oka na yeke na lobi?
M kpa u venge.
S'il vous plaît, tî na file na mî
Ior u nenge.
Mesi na yo na tî
M hia u kpa.
Nde na tî na yeke na yo
Ior a hia u mba?
Oka na yeke na sî na tî?
Ka m hia u.
Tala na yeke na yo
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Nani na lobi na vendredi
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.